Putin is infinitely less intelligent than we gave him credit for and he certainly never expected the Brilliance and the heroic efforts of somebody like Brovdi and the Ukrainian people. Like Trump he grossly underestimated Ukraine just like Trump the pig who grossly underestimating Iran, and they're both getting their butts kicked, and it's a beautiful thing to witness. Down with hubris, mass murders and excess.

If Trump was even reasonably smart he would throw Little Pete under the bus and hire this guy as a consultant immediately, perhaps then the hapless US could make some progress.

Robert Brovdi, known as Magyar, the charismatic commander of Ukraine’s drone forces, is one of the most striking examples of the Ukrainian army’s transformation into a modern technological force. His influence is already clearly visible and is likely to grow even further in the future, according to Ukrainian military expert Viktor Kevlyuk.

When the full-scale war with Russia began in February 2022, he volunteered for the Ukrainian defense forces. For people of his wealth and social status, such a step was rather exceptional.

The unit he created, Magyar’s Birds, gradually grew into a regiment and is now the 414th Strike Drone Brigade. This brigade was, and remains, one of the most effective units carrying out attacks on Russian territory.

Before the war — meaning before the summer of 2014 — he became embroiled in several business scandals. These were typical scandals for Ukraine’s agricultural business at the time: corruption, political lobbying and opaque public procurement. Criminal cases were opened against Brovdi, but he was never convicted of anything. After 2015, Brovdi managed to conduct his business without major public scandals.

When the full-scale war with Russia began in February 2022, he volunteered for the Ukrainian defense forces. For people of his wealth and social status, such a step was rather exceptional.

The unit he created, Magyar’s Birds, gradually grew into a regiment and is now the 414th Strike Drone Brigade. This brigade was, and remains, one of the most effective units carrying out attacks on Russian territory.

As commander of Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces — the so-called drone forces — Magyar undoubtedly plays a key role in carrying out long-range strikes on Russian territory.

A fighter from Magyar’s Birds monitoring the situation in the unit’s headquarters in the fall of 2022 on the section of the southern front under their control.

A fighter from Magyar’s Birds monitoring the situation in the unit’s headquarters in the fall of 2022 on the section of the southern front under their control. Photo: Olga Sošenko/Postimees

After becoming commander of the force, Magyar received broader authority to coordinate the activities of all unmanned systems — aerial, ground and naval drones. This made it possible to systematize long-range strikes against Russian oil refineries, airfields, warehouses, defense-industry facilities and logistics centers. Many of the attacks carried out in the Moscow region were directly led by him.

Since being appointed commander of all drone forces a year ago, he has become one of the main architects of systematic long-range strike campaigns. He is not the only one — the HUR, Ukraine’s military intelligence; the SBU, Ukraine’s Security Service; the Special Operations Forces and others also have their roles — but it is the Unmanned Systems Forces under his command that have given these attacks scale, regularity and a focus on strategic targets. He has spoken publicly about intensifying such attacks and turning Moscow into “a city that no longer sleeps.”

Magyar is a classic example of a new type of “military entrepreneur.”

From the first days of the full-scale invasion, he began experimenting with commercial drones at his own expense, despite bureaucratic obstacles. He quickly grasped the potential of the mass use of FPV drones and UAVs not only as reconnaissance tools, but as a main strike force.

His effectiveness can be explained by several factors. The first is practical experience: Magyar did not simply inherit a structure, but built one from scratch. What began as a small group under his command grew into a brigade and later started to influence an entire branch of the armed forces.

Equally important is his focus on results rather than procedures. He introduced a system for measuring battlefield effectiveness through points awarded for destroyed targets. This created a clear incentive structure for soldiers and helped set ambitious goals, including the aim of destroying more Russian personnel each month than Russia is able to mobilize — more than 30,000 people a month.

Magyar’s command style is also marked by an innovative approach and a capacity for fast learning. The evolution of his forces from simple FPV drones to sophisticated long-range systems, combined operations and mass attacks shows how quickly battlefield experience has been turned into new tactics. His personal qualities have mattered as well: charisma, strong media skills and a willingness to take responsibility. Crucially, he has not been afraid of conflict with the system. As a result, he has become a symbol of a new generation of commanders breaking with the Soviet legacy.

His most important achievements include the creation of the world’s first separate branch of the armed forces focused exclusively on unmanned systems — in the air, on land and at sea. He has also promoted a strategic focus on wearing down the Russian army, including an order to direct more than 30 percent of strikes against personnel rather than only against equipment or infrastructure.

https://balticsentinel.eu/8496687/magyar-the-controversial-commander-behind-ukraine-s-drone-revolution

Just now, Grandpa Cool said:

Fellow forum members it's seriously time to get real instead of blaming, justifying or avoiding the unpleasant truth.

WAR IS CONSPIRED MASS MURDER.

Please consider very seriously.

In the last 500 years, only three years have passed without war. Humanity wages wars almost constantly, and they are not prohibited by international law. You want to ban wars only for Russia?

Just now, Grandpa Cool said:

22 minutes ago, zmisha said:

In the last 500 years, only three years have passed without war. Humanity wages wars almost constantly, and they are not prohibited by international law. You want to ban wars only for Russia?

You have totally missed my point. I have not mentioned any particular nation.

I stated that "War is conspired mass murder."

IMHO the ongoing wars (you say for 500 years continuously) are symptomatic of a deep underlying insanity pervading the human race, programmed into us and justified from generation to generation.

This alienation from each other, the divisiveness, has become the norm and becomes the (insane) justification for conspired mass murder as well as for unending violence and destruction towards perceived enemies.

What can we do about it?

First, we need to recognise that we are programmed.

Second, consciously deprogram.

Third, reprogram.

Become a better person and we make this world a better place.

1 hour ago, Grandpa Cool said:

You have totally missed my point. I have not mentioned any particular nation.

I stated that "War is conspired mass murder."

IMHO the ongoing wars (you say for 500 years continuously) are symptomatic of a deep underlying insanity pervading the human race, programmed into us and justified from generation to generation.

This alienation from each other, the divisiveness, has become the norm and becomes the (insane) justification for conspired mass murder as well as for unending violence and destruction towards perceived enemies.

What can we do about it?

First, we need to recognise that we are programmed.

Second, consciously deprogram.

Third, reprogram.

Become a better person and we make this world a better place.

I couldn’t agree more. We are probably the only species in the universe that kills each other purely for sport. (Perhaps some wars are fought over scarce resources, but there’s always a way to manage and share.) The development and proliferation of nuclear weapons is the definition of total insanity.

 

Your solution requires that we evolve as a species, but all I’ve seen the past 50 years is devolution. At this point, I’m not sure what it’s going to take.

2 hours ago, zmisha said:

"dictatorial powers" haha
According to the Russian Constitution, there are judicial, legislative, and executive branches of power. There is no presidential branch. There is no legal penalty for failure to comply with presidential decrees. You have been misled.

More deflection. The Russian president has vast power. He fancies himself a modern-day Peter the Great. (I have to admit, he does look great shirtless on horseback!) On his orders, Russia invaded a sovereign country (Ukraine) and continues to murder civilians there on a daily basis. You can gush about separation of powers, who committed what war crimes, legal penalties vis-à-vis presidential decrees, until your face turns blue. That won’t change what has been happening on the ground in Ukrainian villages and cities for the past four years.

Don't people know by now not to believe the propaganda coming from the West?

2 hours ago, Cory1848 said:

I couldn’t agree more. We are probably the only species in the universe that kills each other purely for sport. (Perhaps some wars are fought over scarce resources, but there’s always a way to manage and share.) The development and proliferation of nuclear weapons is the definition of total insanity.

 

Your solution requires that we evolve as a species, but all I’ve seen the past 50 years is devolution. At this point, I’m not sure what it’s going to take.

I've never killed anyone, speak for yourself.

The article is taken from here:

https://wiadomosci.wp.pl/chcesz-wojny-domowej-jest-wstrzasajace-nagranie-matki-z-rosji-7323982624757824a

In Polish (but good auto-translation available) and claims to be copied from The Moscow Times.

Repeated searches on The Moscow Times web-site failed to disclose the article posted on the Polish web-site which gives only the mother’s name, Sterchova, but no details of her son’s identity, his unit, date of disappearance, or the sector of the front where he was deployed.

Note that The Moscow Times is a dissident media publication, access to which is permitted in Russia, but sharing it is forbidden. The Polish article resembles a black propaganda piece, rather than the committed (biassed but typically honest) reporting of The Moscow Times. The latter was in print in English, in Russia, from 1992 until 2017 and was distributed free-of-charge. It is since then on-line, in English and Russian; based in Amsterdam.

This is all that was found after extensive search:

https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2024/04/08/one-of-the-first-russian-soldiers-to-invade-ukraine-is-given-a-funeral-2-years-later-a84776

3 hours ago, Cory1848 said:

On his orders, Russia invaded a sovereign country (Ukraine) and continues to murder civilians there on a daily basis.

This very clearly demonstrates the level of power our president has. The decision to launch a special military operation was made by the Federation Council, not the president. And, interestingly, it overturns a previous decision from 2014. Back in 2014, the president addressed the nation and declared that he had "forbade himself" military action in Ukraine with the assistance of Russian troops. Subsequently, the Federation Council issued a resolution prohibiting these actions. How often do you officially forbid yourself from doing anything? Such strange formulations are sometimes used to save face when you're not in power. In Russia, for example, people often say, "I asked to be fired" or "I asked for a pay cut" to save face. If he had absolute power, the SMO would have begun in 2014, not 2022.

1 hour ago, zmisha said:

This very clearly demonstrates the level of power our president has. The decision to launch a special military operation was made by the Federation Council, not the president. And, interestingly, it overturns a previous decision from 2014. Back in 2014, the president addressed the nation and declared that he had "forbade himself" military action in Ukraine with the assistance of Russian troops. Subsequently, the Federation Council issued a resolution prohibiting these actions. How often do you officially forbid yourself from doing anything? Such strange formulations are sometimes used to save face when you're not in power. In Russia, for example, people often say, "I asked to be fired" or "I asked for a pay cut" to save face. If he had absolute power, the SMO would have begun in 2014, not 2022.

What you write is interesting, especially the explanation of assuming responsibility for an action to save face. I don’t know the specifics of how power is shared between the president and the Federation Council, or how much a powerful president can bend the council to his will (as even a weak US president, such as the current one, can sometimes bend an entire political party to his will).

 

I assume you’re a Russian, from your reference to “our” president. (Estonian here -- actually, dual Estonian/US citizen.) But, regardless of who was responsible for initiating the special military operation (well, I’ll call it what it is -- a military invasion), the fact is, it still goes on, more than four years later; it’s clear that Ukraine is quite intent on defending itself, and countless thousands of Russian soldiers have lost their lives, not to mention equal numbers of Ukrainian soldiers and civilians. And I wonder if you favor it, or whether you would, at this point, prefer that Russian troops withdraw from the territory of what is, still, a sovereign nation, not Russia, before more people are uselessly slaughtered.

 

You asked in another post, should Russia alone be banned from waging war? Of course not -- all nations should be banned from waging wars of aggression, which this war is. But there is no “higher power” to enforce such a ban; with a large army, national leaders can do as they wish, unless there is a coordinated international response such as the one that thwarted Hitler. The US continues to recklessly attack other countries; there are stupid, brutal wars in Sudan, Yemen, and elsewhere, none of which serve any beneficial purpose whatsoever. But, even if human beings seem prone to killing each other, at the same time that’s no excuse for aggressive military action.

5 minutes ago, Cory1848 said:

And I wonder if you favor it, or whether you would, at this point, prefer that Russian troops withdraw from the territory of what is, still, a sovereign nation, not Russia, before more people are uselessly slaughtered.

For most people in the Western world, the war began on February 24, 2022. For me, the war began on December 15, 2021. That's when the Russian Foreign Ministry issued an ultimatum to the United States, demanding NATO's withdrawal from Eastern Europe and threatening military retaliation. Although no specific military measures were announced, we can guess what they were based on the fact that the co-founder of Putin's party proposed discussing a nuclear strike on the Nevada nuclear test site to ensure our proposals were taken seriously. In early February 2022, the US Ambassador to Moscow delivered an official response to this ultimatum—and judging by the reaction in the Kremlin, the Americans refused to take the threats seriously and rejected the ultimatum.

At that very time, I personally was categorically opposed to the war in Ukraine. Because there was a much simpler alternative. It was enough to demonstrate seriousness of intentions. However, this created major problems. Lavrov held several meetings with Russian elites, including journalists, and spoke in the State Duma. He saw that Russia's elites were categorically opposed to scaring the Americans. But, interestingly, a huge number of deputies in the State Duma were absent – probably to avoid taking responsibility. The deputies demanded that he instead go "defend" the Donetsk People's Republic.

Did Putin have a choice? Do you remember that immediately after the start of the special military operation, a huge number of people from the Russian elite fled the country that very day. Why were they in such a hurry? They could have at least packed their things – after all, no one had brought any charges against them? Later, in early March, the head of the foreign intelligence service reported that there had been an unsuccessful coup attempt in Russia. At the time, Putin's critics condemned his refusal to liberate the Donetsk People's Republic. And, apparently, they were using this pretext to try to overthrow him. it`s like "bad tsar doesn't want to liberate Russians in Ukraine" haha.

Based on what I know, this war would have started anyway. The only question was whether it would start with Putin or without him.
Since we have no other alternative now, I support the actions of our heroes in Ukraine and sincerely wish them victory.

2 hours ago, zmisha said:

For most people in the Western world, the war began on February 24, 2022. For me, the war began on December 15, 2021. That's when the Russian Foreign Ministry issued an ultimatum to the United States, demanding NATO's withdrawal from Eastern Europe and threatening military retaliation. Although no specific military measures were announced, we can guess what they were based on the fact that the co-founder of Putin's party proposed discussing a nuclear strike on the Nevada nuclear test site to ensure our proposals were taken seriously. In early February 2022, the US Ambassador to Moscow delivered an official response to this ultimatum—and judging by the reaction in the Kremlin, the Americans refused to take the threats seriously and rejected the ultimatum.

At that very time, I personally was categorically opposed to the war in Ukraine. Because there was a much simpler alternative. It was enough to demonstrate seriousness of intentions. However, this created major problems. Lavrov held several meetings with Russian elites, including journalists, and spoke in the State Duma. He saw that Russia's elites were categorically opposed to scaring the Americans. But, interestingly, a huge number of deputies in the State Duma were absent – probably to avoid taking responsibility. The deputies demanded that he instead go "defend" the Donetsk People's Republic.

Did Putin have a choice? Do you remember that immediately after the start of the special military operation, a huge number of people from the Russian elite fled the country that very day. Why were they in such a hurry? They could have at least packed their things – after all, no one had brought any charges against them? Later, in early March, the head of the foreign intelligence service reported that there had been an unsuccessful coup attempt in Russia. At the time, Putin's critics condemned his refusal to liberate the Donetsk People's Republic. And, apparently, they were using this pretext to try to overthrow him. it`s like "bad tsar doesn't want to liberate Russians in Ukraine" haha.

Based on what I know, this war would have started anyway. The only question was whether it would start with Putin or without him.
Since we have no other alternative now, I support the actions of our heroes in Ukraine and sincerely wish them victory.

I was unaware of, or had forgotten about, the Russian ultimatum of December 2021, but the Americans would have no choice but to reject it. NATO is a defensive alliance, and the US by itself has no authority to effect “NATO’s withdrawal from Eastern Europe.”

 

What happened is this: in the 1990s, given a window of opportunity, nearly every nation in eastern Europe, the Baltics, and the Balkans clamored to qualify for and join Western institutions -- namely, the EU and NATO. They did this not to threaten Russia, but to seek guarantees against any future Russian aggression. As it turns out, they were quite right to do so, as Russia proceeded to attack and occupy parts of Moldova, Georgia, and Ukraine, none of them NATO members.

 

So, for any member state to leave NATO would not be a matter for the US to decide. The ultimatum you refer to was likely illogical.

 

Again, nobody in NATO -- whether long-standing member states or new members -- has ever had any desire to threaten Russia; in fact, in the 1990s, there was substantial cooperation between NATO and Russia. Remember, in different eras both Napoleon and General Guderian, despite having superior forces, failed to take Moscow. The last person to try, Yevgeny Prigozhin, ended up getting thrown out of an airplane. Why would NATO seek to threaten Russia? On the other hand, all of eastern Europe has been subjected to Russian imperialism at different periods of time for centuries.

 

Why would Russia’s invasion of Ukraine have “started anyway”? The Donetsk People’s Republic you refer to is an invented puppet state propped up by the Russian military. I would be in favor of a fair referendum in Donetsk and Luhansk (and Crimea) asking the resident populations whether they preferred to remain in Ukraine or join Russia, conducted by objective international agencies and with all Russian troops withdrawn to ensure that people felt free to vote honestly. And please don’t tell me that there have already been referendums, with 99.9% of the people choosing to leave Ukraine and join Russia. These were obviously fabrications.

 

Yes, Russia has a very good alternative -- withdraw all forces from Ukraine and cooperate internationally to rebuild Ukraine (and those parts of Russia that have been damaged). When you say you support the actions of your “heroes” in Ukraine and “wish them victory,” I hate to tell you, but there will be no victory for Russia, any more than there will be a US victory over Iran. What you are saying is, you wish the bloodshed to continue: you wish for thousands more Russians and Ukrainians to die needlessly. And for this, well, I have no response.

7 minutes ago, Cory1848 said:

Yes, Russia has a very good alternative -- withdraw all forces from Ukraine and cooperate internationally to rebuild Ukraine (and those parts of Russia that have been damaged).

Imagine you hit someone on the street. Then they hit you. Then you hit them again. I think you understand that once a fight starts, you don't have the option of simply dispersing peacefully. If you stop, you'll lose and be seriously hurt. Someone has to win and someone has to be seriously hurt—such are the laws of any fight.
And I'm confident that Russia will win—because Putin is doing exactly what will lead to victory. He's eliminating the problem that prevented him from winning on December 15, 2021. Back then, the problem was the cowardly elites. Throughout 2026, our president explained to the people that he considered the new elites to be people who had undergone a special military operation. What do you think will happen when, after the elections in a month, these people are given the power to decide whether to press the red button or not? They sat in trenches under fire for four years, caught American drones on their heads, killed enemies—sometimes even with their bare hands. Will THESE people hesitate even for a second when the time comes to demonstrate their seriousness?

I think no one will want to deal with THIS Russia, and the response to all ultimatums will be immediate.

34 minutes ago, zmisha said:

Imagine you hit someone on the street. Then they hit you. Then you hit them again. I think you understand that once a fight starts, you don't have the option of simply dispersing peacefully. If you stop, you'll lose and be seriously hurt. Someone has to win and someone has to be seriously hurt—such are the laws of any fight.
And I'm confident that Russia will win—because Putin is doing exactly what will lead to victory. He's eliminating the problem that prevented him from winning on December 15, 2021. Back then, the problem was the cowardly elites. Throughout 2026, our president explained to the people that he considered the new elites to be people who had undergone a special military operation. What do you think will happen when, after the elections in a month, these people are given the power to decide whether to press the red button or not? They sat in trenches under fire for four years, caught American drones on their heads, killed enemies—sometimes even with their bare hands. Will THESE people hesitate even for a second when the time comes to demonstrate their seriousness?

I think no one will want to deal with THIS Russia, and the response to all ultimatums will be immediate.

I’m not going to bother closely parsing your post, given that it’s mostly nonsense; you seem to be saying that, yes, Russia threw the first punch by invading Ukraine, and when the Ukrainians fought back, well, that means it’s time to go all the way to the end, to push the red button. Which city/cities would you like to incinerate -- Kiev? Warsaw? London? New York? All of them?

I’ve traveled in Russia a few times, all during Putin’s presidency, and had a wonderful time, meeting people who are generous and warm and, for lack of a better word, “normal.” I would love to return, and I wish for nothing more than that Russia can thrive in a post-Putin environment. But your post reads like a threat -- “no one will want to deal with THIS Russia,” ready to respond “immediately” with “seriousness,” which with your “red button” talk I take to mean nuclear annihilation. Are you even aware how sick, how inhuman that is? Goodbye, and good luck.

Edited September 2Sep 2 by Cory1848

2 minutes ago, Cory1848 said:

Which city/cities would you like to incinerate -- Kiev? Warsaw? London? New York? All of them?

I have good news for you here. Strategic nuclear weapons (unlike tactical ones) don't cause death. They cause bedwetting and diarrhea. If you see kilometer-long lines for the toilet in your country, it means the threats have worked, and soon your politicians will sign whatever Vlad brings them.

On 8/31/2026 at 10:06 AM, sammieuk1 said:

Two ways to end the imperialist madness leave Ukraine' or whack' the fuhrer' or both

Your opponents are not sand devils or mud hut dwellers they are killers made by the Moscow bunker moth as 1.5 million have found out already🤔

I’m for Whack the Fuhrer !

On 9/2/2026 at 9:17 AM, Cameroni said:

If "reasonable grounds to believe" is all you have, that's not enough. You have to KNOW. You have to have clear evidence.

What is this evidence that Putin himself ordered war crimes?

Lets be grown up about this? Putin is the dictator in chief. He orders everything that happens in his gawd awful country, whether you like it or not.

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